Instincts

Upon returning to the Western Palace, Sesshoumaru followed his father into the study where he was invited to sit and talk by Inu no Taishou after they had partaken of refreshment. It was obvious that Sesshoumaru had questions about what had happened with Inuyasha, but the father had something to say first and that would wait until after he had had a cup of sake. Sesshoumaru was apprehensive, he knew his father was displeased with him, a feeling the son hated; then after what seemed an age he jumped in with both feet ahead of his father, taking Inu no Taishou by surprise.

"I apologise Father...I have let you down again. I know you are angry with me for my interference at the human farm in regards to the sick pup. I will of course accept your punishment." Sesshoumaru said quietly but firmly, his hands resting in his lap and his eyes turned slightly to the side in deference to his Alpha. Inu no Taishou however smiled, but sadly, his eldest pup was so formal. He was the classic mix of child and adult, neither one thing nor the other; but his natural disposition was intense, similar to his mother's and that was a danger to the often times aloof and lonely boy.

It would have been better for Sesshoumaru to have had at least one sibling closer in age, but that was hindsight and although in a couple of centuries the age gap wouldn't notice as much, now the boy was too serious. Inuyasha would knock his corners off when he was older and Michiko would soften him and who knows what talent the youngest boy to come would show in the socialising of his adolescent brother. He turned his attention to his apprehensive pup, understanding the inner turmoil the youth was in at the thought of his father's anger.

Inu no Taishou stood and went over to his son and knelt in front of him, raising the boy's chin with his hand before smiling into the momentarily startled eyes.

"I have never punished you or anyone else for an error of judgement My Sesshoumaru; I'm hardly going to start now. Besides I hardly think I'm going to need to, your youkai is already berating you for upsetting Inuyasha isn't it?"

"Yes Papa and it doesn't help to know that Inuyasha's youkai needs me and he is not to be approached."

"Perhaps then it will come to the good and you will learn to assess the whole situation before jumping in with both feet. Something else concerns you about your younger brother?"

"He disobeyed you Papa, blatantly refused your direction; how could he do so, his youkai must obey his alpha unless he is issuing a challenge. But that cannot be, he is far too young and yet you let him do as he wished with impunity...I do not understand."

"This worries you...that I did not subdue him? You feel I should have exerted my Alpha status even above that of being a father and compel your brother?"

"Not to harm him, only to teach and train...his youkai instincts are being undermined by his natural human propensity of showing disobedience to parental authority." Sesshoumaru was worried and always at his best when he was being pompous, thought Inu no Taishou fondly, knowing that his eldest meant well.

"You feel that Inuyasha is being compromised by his humanity and that it could have disastrous effects on his youkai perception then My Son? This would be most grievous of course, but if his rebellion is due to the human aspect of Inuyasha, I have to wonder what then caused your own disobedience to me personally, when you were of a similar age."

"You insult me Father; I have never challenged your authority in such a manner." Sesshoumaru replied, aghast that Inu no Taishou would say such a thing. He was a model son and although he had not always been obedient in deed, he had never defied his father to his face. The General smirked at the affronted Sesshoumaru.

"It is not so long ago to me Sesshoumaru that I don't remember. A boy pup standing in front of me, with his fists clenched tightly at his sides, stamping his foot and telling his Alpha Father in no uncertain terms, that he wasn't going to have a bath. He didn't like baths because it took too long to dry his hair and he didn't like the girly smell of the soaps."

"I seem to remember that it made no difference, I still had to bathe."

"That doesn't negate the fact you defied me at first. However I was not angry with you, it did me good to see you strong and fierce. No loving parent wants their child to be afraid of them, scared to speak their own mind. It gave me great joy to see you assertive, it amused me too, this tiny youkai bristling with self righteousness that I could crush with one finger. I got much pleasure when you stood your ground, even though I had to deny you often; it always lifted my spirits far more than any stimulants. But there was another time when I let you have your way, don't you remember?"

"No Papa."

"Surely Sesshoumaru it hasn't slipped your memory? Once again you stood before me and refused to do as you were told, this time about going to bed. You told me you were not tired, that you shouldn't be forced to go to bed before you were ready, and just because I could make you, didn't make it right."

"I do not remember the exact words, but I am sure my youkai would not have allowed a confrontation Papa." Sesshoumaru haughtily replied, a very faint colouring on his cheeks. Inu no Taishou was vastly amused by his son's nonsense; just as he had been when the pup was younger. He of course clearly remembered the flushed cheeks and blazing, furious eyes of his then only child, as he asserted what he clearly felt were his rights. Sesshoumaru had been about Inuyasha's age when this came about and stood only a tad taller than his father's knees; but unlike his beta son, with Sesshoumaru the alpha presence was already in force and not to be ignored.

And this was at the heart of his eldest son's problem, Inuyasha was beta by birth and nature, and therefore in his alpha brother's eyes he shouldn't have been able to be defiant. Inu no Taishou knew that Sesshoumaru still had much to learn, just because a pup was beta didn't mean he was subservient in all things and Inuyasha was proving to have just as much of a stubborn streak as his beloved Shu.

"What do you think I should have done then Sesshoumaru? Ripped the poor baby from Inuyasha's arms and beaten him into submission? Or should I have growled loudly and quelled the humans even more than I did, and take away the decision from them concerning the child? Should I have made sure that Inuyasha never again questioned my order by accepting a challenge from the pup? Or should I have realised that my little son was upset and protective of his tiny sister and doing his best to preserve the child?"

"Of course you did the right thing Papa...I don't question that."

"Oh Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha is very like you in many ways, he is only feeling the same way about the baby that you did when you took charge of him at his birth. He is acting on his Inu instincts and his human ones and doesn't mean to be rude or challenging, he is just passionate."

"All the same I am loath to leave him for any length of time alone with just the humans; I still feel it would have been wiser to make him come home. Surely he could see that no harm would now come to the child?"

"Hmm, I have to wonder about that, but I would not break my pup's spirit in any case; that night that you insisted...yes you did Sesshoumaru, do not shake your head at me...you insisted that you be allowed to go to bed when you wished and not before, I allowed it. You stayed up even after everyone else had turned out their lights and you found that it was not as much fun as you'd thought. I remember finding you asleep at the foot of our bed, curled in your mother's tail, because you had been...unnerved by all the silence. Sometimes as a parent you have to allow your children to make decisions and unfortunately learn from mistakes; a good parent will be there to pick up the pieces and help you grow."

"It seems it will be a hard lesson for Inuyasha."

"That cannot be helped, he has chosen this burden."

"What of his schooling?"

"The choice Inuyasha has made is also part of his education, My Sesshoumaru; it may not be formal lessons or teaching, but it is experience. He also has a right to make decisions just as you do and to learn from them. I have to tell you I am proud of him, just as I am proud of you; it is not easy to stand alone. But Inuyasha is not unguarded; I have instructed the guards to be more vigilant around the pup and his mother, for I too do not trust the rest of the family."

"May I please also check up on Inuyasha, I feel a need to calm my youkai, I am sure that he too would benefit from this?"

"No, not at the moment Sesshoumaru: you caused him great unhappiness by your near action and he will need to come to terms with that before you engulf him with your youkai again."

"But Papa..." Sesshoumaru started and then blushed realising he was starting to argue.

"Never be afraid to question me My Sesshoumaru; I am your Papa first and foremost and I enjoy being ...diverted by your reasoning."

"I don't like having misunderstandings left unresolved Papa."

"I agree, but you are not the one I must indulge in this; Inuyasha has a lot on his plate at the moment and will see you only as a potential threat. There will be time later for you to repair the damage to your bond. Trust me."

IYQ Community; April 2010 Week #2:

A little nonsense now and then
Is relished by the wisest men.

-Roald Dahl